Home > Home - Featured

Justin Pointer of Dance With The Dead

09/11/2023

Dance With The Dead, Sept. 27th at Star Theater - Preview

 By MATT HANSEN //  Dark synthwave band that is heavily influenced by horror movies will usher in Autumn at Star Theater

Autumn is likely the best time for Dance With The Dead to tour; with a name that functions as an endorsement to kick-off the spooky season. Band members Justin Pointer and Tony Kim thrive in the time of year when the leaves turn orange, Spirit Halloween stores start to pop up, and fake blood and ghoul make-up become commonplace. There’s also the band’s obsession with horror film scores, which permeates their music and makes it the perfect companion to any scary movie streaming marathon leading up to October 31st.  

Although the band’s show at Doug Fir Lounge back in August of 2022 was a tad premature in the season, it’s fair to say that DWTD makes music for those who relish in the horror genre year-round. Taking their cues from film music that conveys a strong sense of suspense and fear, DWTD also folds in a heavy metal experience that is all their own.

If you’re a fan of the films of John Carpenter or Dario Argento, then DWTD is probably the catnip for your horror soundtrack cravings. Make no mistake though, the duo of Pointer and Kim create their own type of horror vibe, rather than simply retreading the heavies of the genre. And they’ve even received a nod from some of their idols – John Carpenter and his son Cody Carpenter – who are featured on the first track on the most recent DWTD album, Driven to Madness. On the album, the tracks move in a narrative fashion that subtly reminds us of Carpenter’s haunted car film Christine, or gives us the chill of getting into the backseat of the zombie-driven taxi in Ghostbusters. DWTD are masters of horror movie imagery and atmosphere, while also bringing more rock than a geology museum.

Dance With The Dead will be in good touring company on Wednesday Sept. 27^th at Star Theater, with Finnish headliners Beast In Black, a power-metal band whose name is an allusion to the popular animé, Berserk. Fans of both dark fantasy and dark synthwave will unite for this one.

ON TOUR: Dance With The Dead w/ Beast In Black at Star Theater on Friday, September 27th, 2023. Doors 7:00PM / Show 8:00PM. (Tickets). 21+ show.

Comments